Ventilating strip for hats and the like



Jan.,24, 1933. M. POPPR VENTILA'IING STRIP FOR IHATS AND THB LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 29. 192,9

ln/vanto v ma Jan. 24, 1933. M. PQPPER VENTILATING STRIP FOR HATS AND THE LIKE Filed June 29. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 uw W Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES.

- Maxrorrna; or NEW Yoann. Y.

VENTILATING smirroa HATS AND THE LIKE Appueatibn med :une 29, 1929. seriai No. 374,802.

This invention is directed to anirnprove-A -mentin and method of constructing self-conn forming Ventilating sweat bands for hats, caps, and other headwear, in the kuse of which provision'is made (for a comfortable fit' of the'hat,'while at the same time affording complete Ventilation of thel space within: the

hat above the head.

In providing a self-conforming Ventilating sweat band ofthis character it is important that the Ventilating strip'so-called be capa-J ble of simple and economical production, be integrally provided with means whereby the Y Ventilating strip may be secured as a unitary structure to the sweat band proper, in the assemblage of the latter with the hat; that the relation of the Ventilating strip and sweat band be such as to avoid the possibility of the,

Asweat band proper closing the Ventilating openings ofthe Ventilating strip during the use of the hat; and that theapplication ofthe Ventilatingv strip between the sweat band proper and hat be such as to present a neat and durable appearance. The primary object of the present inve'n` tion is a method of making the Ventilating strip so that in a single operation the strip maden p of a fabric section and a rubber section may be formed to present a unit structure substantially fiexible ,andv conformable, with a yportion of the width formed of spaced ribs to provide Ventilating Ichannels' betweenl them, and the remainder of the width' of plain, unbroken surface to provide for the connection of the Ventilating strip" to thev fabric strip. Afterthe parts have been sub.-

sweat band and to the hat. Y

A further object is the utilization in such method of a fabric strip cut onv the bias,

Y whereby the unitary Ventilating strip when completed will readilyconform to the curvature necessarily assumed by such strip in its application to thesweat band and to the hat, without liability of wrinkling or buckling.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a Ventilating strip wherein theY Ventilating portion is formed by spaced ribs toprovide Ventilating channels therebetween, the ribs being arranged at differentangles.

with respect to the edge ofthe strip and rela-l tively parallel throughout the length ofthe' strip, or at one angle throughout a portion of the strip and a dierent angle throughout the' 4remainder of the strip, or at Varying angles utilization with the improvedr Ventilating strip and sweat band, of the conventional bead usually employed as a sweat band conforming means, such bead being capable of a Variety of positions in connection with theiinproved Ventilating strip. e.

In carrying out the method ofthe manu-4 facture of the improved Ventilating strip, aA section of fabric, preferably of a width to form a number of Ventilating strips, with such fabric cut on the bias, is used as a base for the strip. A .sheet of soft, yuncured rubber corresponding insurface dimensions with those of the; fabric strip, is placed on the fabric strip, and.. the two parts in superimposed relation placed. 75." in a. mold and subjected to pressure and avul-Y ca nizing heat. f Thezmoldis formed in part withrecesses and in part withI ,pl-ain por-. tions, the recessed andplain portions of the i mold: `being duplicated throughout the widthi` 0 ofthe mold to simultaneously lform a plu-4 rality of Ventilating strips. AUnder the pressure Yand heat the rubberfflo'ws into the rey cesses o-f the moldand intimately unites' in a more lor .less vulcanized relation withthe number ofsuch strips are formed, they are of course to be separated. The 4use of the heat and pressurecauses o a Vulcanizing of the'rubber sheet to the," fabric strip'pso that the resultantfprd'duct the 'Ventilating strip, is a unitary,substanh tially rubber member, completely formed forV Ventilating purposes and for pro-Visionl of atioo Y tion to be used in making up the VentilatingY strip. v

Figure 2 is a face View of the Ventilating strip. f

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on of Figure 2. v Figure 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4 of'Figure 2. f

Figure 5 is a broken elevation showing the Ventilating strip applied to the sweat band.

Figure 6 is a broken face View of av venf tilating band showing a modified' arrangement of VVentilating openings.

Ythe mold. 1

Figure 7 isa similar View showing another arrangement of Ventilating openings.

Figure 8'is a broken perspective View of the preferred form of Ventilating strip'.

Figure 9 is a broken sectional View showiing the improvedv Ventilating strip, sweat 'band proper, and hat in connected relation,

a conventional reed being shown in one position. l

Figure 10l is asimilar View with the reed in another position. I

F gure 11 is a broken face View of another form of Ventilating strip.

Figure 12 is a broken perspective View of the die member of the mold.

The improved Ventilating strip is, as stated,

made up of a fabric section 1 and a rubberv sheet applied to the fabric section, such sheet 2 being shown in igures 3 and 4.L The die or forming member of themold has asurface area to accommodate a fabric and 'aprubber section of sufficient width to form a plurality of Ventilating strips ina single operation, though of course the invention contemplates a die and mold which will form one Aor'any number of Ventilating strips.

Figure 12, is recessed at appropriate intervals, as at 4, to receive a metallic section 5 which has been formed with a plurality of transverse recesses 6, leaving ribs 7 1which, when the metallic section is in place, are substantially flush with the plain surfaceV 8 of The rubber strip 2 is placed on the forming member, the fabric strip 1 superimposed thereon, and the plain section of the mold (not shown) is closed uponthe fabric strip andthe mold `placed under pressure in the presence yof a heat sufficient to vulcanize' the rubber. In the vulcanizingprocess, the rub` ber will flowrand substantially lill'the recesses 6 in the insert section 5, the rubber of the 'sec line The die ork forming member of the mold, shown at 3 in tion` 2 vat the same time intimately uniting with the fabric section 1. Following treatment for aV suicient period, the mold is opened and the Ventilating section, shown ric and rubberduring the heat and pressure of the mold, the Ventilating strip is, when completed, a unitary Aproduct of soft yieldable nature, capable of readily conforming to the hat and' to the head of the wearer.

By reason of the recesses 6 in the mold section, the Ventilating stri is formed throughf out a portion of its w'idt with spaced ribs 9,

which by reason of their relative arranger ment form Ventilating channels" 10`between them with such channels fully and completely Open. at the vtop and bottom. One yend of the ribs 9 are in coincidence with one ledge of the vVentilating strip, the other end of the ribs, however, terminating short of the opposite edge of such Ventilating strip, That portion ofthe strip-beyond the ribs is, by reason of the plain surface 8 of the forming'section of the mold, plain and unbroken throughout its length. As will later'appear, the plain section of the Ventilating strip provides the Hapwhereby the Ventilating strip is secured in place to thesweat band proper,y and there-l fore, for the purposes of this description, that partof the Ventilating strip providing therventil'ating function will be hereinafter termed the Ventilating section, while the plain portion of the strip, indicated at 11, will be hereinafter termed the attachingsectlOIl. i A i i It is to be remembered that the Ventilating strip is to be connected tothe sweat band proper, and must therefore, when applied', conform to the shape of the interior of the edge of the'hat crown, thatV is, assume a substantially circular outline. If the 'fabric strip 1 isy therefore of ordinarystraight fabric, itis apparent that in applying the ventilating strip and sweat band, the .fabric strip would Vbuckle or wrinkle, which is to be avoided. As an essential feature'of the method, therefore, the fabric strip 1 is of'material i The .ventilatingstrip is secured to the I .sweat band proper, indicated at 12, bysti'tching Vthey edge 13 of suchy sweat band proper immediately adjacent the line of juncture between the .attaching and Ventilating sections. ofV the ventilatingstri'p.- This line of stitching is indicated at 14 in Figure 5. .Thefventilatingst'rip is of course secured, to

the loweredge ofthe sweat band proper, asA

such sweat band is arranged in the hat, and

securing the composite sweat band and ventilating strip in place necessitates the turning of the Ventilating section of the ventilating strip upwardly between the sweat band proper and the crown 15 of the hat, as indicated in Figure. 9. Thus, the Ventilating strip is arranged between the sweat band proper and the hat crown, the ribs 9 of the Ventilating section bearing against the hat crown. The Ventilating channels 10 are thus open throughout their lengths, admitting air to the top of the head between the sweat band proper and the crown of the hat, as indicated by the arrows in Figures 9 and 10.

If the conventional reed is to be used with the improved Ventilating strip, such reed, as indicated at 16 in Figure 9, may be applied on the rib side of the Ventilating section of the Ventilating strip; or if desired to be arranged between the sweat band proper and the Ventilating strip, such reed, as indicated at 17 in Figure 10, may be arranged between the attaching section 11 of the Ventilating strip and the sweat band, the sweat band, reed, and attaching section being secured together by the same line of stitching.

Where the Ventilating strip is usedV without the bead, as is of course contemplated, the lower edge of the sweat band proper, if not particularly formed, would present an abrupt and uncomfortable edge in line with the lower edge of the Ventilating strip. To

vavoid this, the sweat band proper, or more particularly the lower edge thereof, is beveled or skived off, as at 18, to reduce the extreme lower edge of the sweat band and 4substantially merge its inner surface into the Irounded edge 19 formed by bending the attaching section of the Ventilating strip upwardly. There is thus no objectionable edge .presented at this point.

Where the reed is employed on the inner side of the Ventilating strip, as in Figure 10, this bead will overlie the edge of the sweat band proper, and such edge, as indicated at 20, may be a square edge without objection, though even here the edge of the sweat band may be beveled off, if desired.

In the ordinary formation of the Ventilating section of the Ventilating strip, the ribs 9 may extend at right angles to the edge of such strip, so that the incoming currents of air are directed more or less vertically. It has been found an advantage, however, to arrange these ribs at other than a Vertical position in order to facilitate amore complete air admission, particularly where the air is in motion.

In Figure 6 there is illustrated a construction in which the respective end ribs, here indicated at 21, and the central rib 22 of the Ventilating strip are at right angles to the edge of the strip, while the intervening ribs are in two groups, those indicated at 23 on one sideofthe lcentral rib 22 4being in parallel relation andat an;` angle other than la right angle tothe edgeof` thestrip while those.l

indicated at 24 are also A. in` parallel relation but at an angle opposite that of the ribs 23. r In Figure 7 the ribshereindicated at 25, are disposed in parallel relation and all at the same inclination with the. edge of the Ven` tilating strip. As an alternative suggestion and one not necessary to illustrate, the ribs on the-Ventilating Vsection of. the Ventilating strip forward of the transverse median.` line of theshat crownmay be all inclined infthe,

saine direction, while those in rear of such median line may be inclined 1n the'reverse direction.

-v .ThisrelatiVe angular relation. of the ribs as shown and described is intended to illustrate that the'invention contemplates any desired angular relation of the ribs, either in groups or pasan' entirety, throughout the length` of the Ventilating strip.\

The vprimary purpose of these angularly` need not be of straight formation from end tor end. In Figure 11` is illustrated a form wherein the ribs, indicated at 26, are of some` what irregular' shape longitudinally, that is,` of somewhat curVed central portion,`as in dicated at 27, with vthe upper and lower portions `28 and 29 vertically ofset.

tilating strip constructedv of a fabric back and rubber face,formed as to its Ventilating features, and united into' one integral whole by a substantial `Vulcanizing process, together` with asiinultaneousmolding. The ventilating strip thus is a unit product, soft and" flexible, and' entirely conformable' in' use.-`r Byj reason offthe attaching section of the; unit product, it may be readily andconVen-QI If desired, and as contemplated, the ribs 'Ihe ribs? may readily be of other firregular shapesk without departing from the spirit `of this in- VVention. w

uThe important 'feature of the present invention resides` in the provision off a -Ven' roc rio

iently'applied to the sweatbandproper, in

a manner to prevent any possible separation of the parts and in a manner to insure that the Ventilating section will be at all times in proper position for a complete and satisfactory Ventilating function; Y

It will be noted that the forming element of the mold may if desired and preferably isA formed with an overiiow cavity 30, to take care of excess rubber duringthe pressure and heat treatment. Also, it is obvious that the rubber element of the Ventilating strip,

4 r y mamen? als: appliedf tothe.mold,.mayA be inse arate sections-,or in factain irregularand di erent pieces, kas 'during theftreatment in fthemold such sections or pieces Will unite in an in- Y tegral Whole.

It is to be emphasized that the Ventilating strip` is a hat protective element 'as Well as a Ventilating strip. By reason of. the characp ter of the materials employed in the construc- O tion ofthe strip, it is apparent that it is impervious to moisture, hence usualperspira- Vtion cannot penetrate through the strip and reachthe hat, thus` avoiding a heretofore unavoidable disadvantage o theusual hat con- Y I5 struction.Vv

The Ventilating strip is thus a perspiration proof, flexible.conformable, and thoroughly sanitaryarticle, andj one readily and A easi'lv constructedand applied.

i0 ,hat is claimed to be new is:

1. A Ventilating strip. for hats andthe like, having a bias cut fabricy backing and a rubber face, the rubber-face being provided vWith integral outstandingy ribsspaced apart il@ to provi-de Ventilating channels. f

2. A Ventilating strip `for hats and the like, including a composite section formed of an inherentlyeelastic strip and a biascut strip inseparably united, the inherentlyelastic strip being integrally formed on its face With outstanding spaced'ribs of less length` than` the Width of the strip.

3. A Ventilating strip for hats and the like, including ayabric section of bias cut and a rubber section secured to the fabric section, the; rubber section being integrally formed' with spaced ribs extending transversely and terminating short'of one edge of the strip.

o 4:. A Ventilating strip for hats including a. composite section including a rubber face and a fabric backing extending throughout the full area lof oney surface of said rubber face uniform in lengths and Widths, ribs ar'- ranged transversely in. spaced relationon that side of the rubber face opposite the fabric, the ribs extending from. one longitud-inal edge of the strip to a line short of the opposing edge, that portion of the strip l`50 free of ribs being; foldable substantially at v the liney of the ribsy to provide a section ofk fabric and rubber to be secured tothe hat- In testimony whereof I alii-X my signature.

55; MAX PoPPER. 

